Exploding Kittens (GET THIS GAME)

According to the official Exploding Kittens website, this card game had the most number of backers and was the most-funded game in Kickstarter history.

That’s a pretty big deal.

But here’s the bigger deal: middle schoolers LOVE this game.

And when I say LOVE, I mean L-O-V-E.

They don’t really much care who wins (though they do enjoy when someone else draws an Exploding Kitten card).

They just like playing it. They like dabbling in strategy and plotting how to stay in the game. They especially like the ridiculous cards (illustrated by artists from The Oatmeal comic).

It’s hard to describe and explain how much middle schoolers (especially boys, in my experience) love this card game.

I’ve met countless kids in the lunchroom playing this game. I’ve also accumulated a fair amount of Flamin’ Hot Cheetoh residue on my cards, but that’s a small price to pay for the fun and laughter we all have.

NOTE: I include more players than the instructions allow, and I do NOT give every player a defuse card up front; I leave them all in the deck. This helps the game finish faster, which is important when you’re on the lunchroom clock.

REALLY EXTRA IMPORTANT NOTE: There is an adult version of Exploding Kittens. Order carefully.